Professional Opportunities In Service Tax

Dr. Sanjiv Agarwal

As the gamut of service tax expands, there is going to be ever increasing need for professionals to advise and assist the assessees. A Chartered accountant and other professionals (Advocates, CS etc.) with proper training and experience is considered to be well equipped to position in the dynamic role as an advisor and facilitator for compliances under the service tax law.

Professionals can find the emerging opportunities in relation to following areas of practice in indirect taxation and in particular Service tax-

1. Providing tax planning in Government/Commercial projects/ investments / IPRs having substantial investment

2. Registration of assessees

3. Disclosures and submissions to Department

4. Compliance of procedural aspects

5. Computation of monthly/ quarterly payment of tax/ duties

6. Return verification / filing of returns

7. Service tax review and quarterly audit

8. Review of systems and procedure before Departmental audit

9. Assistance during Departmental IAP or CAG audit

10. Opinions/ Clarifications

11. Transaction planning and structuring

12. Guidance on understanding of effect of budget/recent changes on activities

13. Filing of Refund claims of Service Tax

14. Departmental representation

15. Reply to Show Cause Notice (SCN)

16. Representation before Adjudicating Authority

17. Drafting of representation at Appellate Forums

18. Facilitation to Advocates at High Court/ Supreme Court

19. Outsourcing of Service Tax compliance activities

20. Other areas such as training / teaching, writing articles, submission / representation to the Government, etc.

Service Tax: Gateway to new Professional Opportunities